News Archive

What has culture got to do with sustainability? Everything!

Thursday 19 November 2009, 6.00 pm
Council Chamber, Main Building, Cardiff University, Park Place

As part of Cardiff University's Sustainability Week (16-20 November 2009) they are hosting a poetry reading by the celebrated essayist and poet Robert Minhinnick, plus other speakers.

Come and join in a lively discussion about the role culture has to play in the sustainability agenda both here in Wales and globally.  Do you think culture and the arts have a role to play in sustainable development? Should issues around sustainability be left to the scientists, engineers, environmentalists and policy makers?

The evening will begin with a poetry reading by Robert Minhinnick, environmental campaigner, celebrated essayist and poet. This will be followed by a discussion about the role of culture in sustainable development chaired by Professor Kevin Morgan. It will include insights from Professor Geoffrey Samuel, Director of the Cardiff Humanities Research Institute, on current and future humanities activities (at Cardiff University), Professor Justin Lewis, Head of Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, and  Professor Adam Jaworski, Head of the Centre for Language and Communication Research, School of English, Communication and Philosophy.

Robert Minhinnick was born in 1952 in Neath. He grew up near Bridgend and studied at the universities of Aberystwyth and Cardiff. Robert co-founded Friends of the Earth Cymru in 1984 and became the organisation’s joint co-ordinator and information officer. He is advisor to the charity Sustainable Wales and was editor of the international quarterly, Poetry Wales, 1997 - 2008. His debut novel, Sea Holly, was published in 2007 and shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize in 2008. His book, To Babel and Back, was published in 2005 and won the 2006 Wales Book of the Year Award.

Signed copies of Robert’s ‘books will be available to purchase during the evening.

Please RSVP to publicity@cardiff.ac.uk with the name of the event in the subject box.

A drinks reception follows in the VJ Gallery, Main Building.

Supported by Academi.